Homes for Haringey honoured with 2 APSE Awards

Wednesday 7 July 2010

The organisation that manages council housing in Haringey, has received two awards in the 2010 APSE Housing and Building Apprentice of the Year Awards. Homes for Haringey Carpenter, Fiona Mckinney, 18, made it down to the final four finalists in the running for the Apprentice of the Year Award.

As one of four finalists, Fiona was presented with an inscribed plaque at the ceremony which took place in Manchester, last Thursday (1 July.)  The second award was presented to the organisation for its long-term commitment in developing apprentices. Fiona started her career with Homes for Haringey in September 2009 as an apprentice carpenter in the repairs depot based on Lordship Lane, Tottenham N17 and attends college one day a week at the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.  She is currently studying for a level 3 NVQ in Carpentry.

The APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) apprentice and trainee awards scheme has been running successfully for 12 years throughout the UK. The aim of the awards, which are open to every authority in the UK, gives recognition to future tradespersons and the councils and organisations that invest in first class training and employment initiatives in bona-fide Modern Apprenticeship schemes.

Fiona was one of five new female apprentices recruited into the In-House repairs team in September 2009. The five men and women were selected from over 150 applicants.

Chief Executive, Paul Bridge, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement for Fiona who is still in the early stages of her apprenticeship and career. We also appreciate APSE for honouring our ongoing commitment and investment in long term apprenticeship programmes in Haringey.”

Fiona, was nominated by managers at Homes for Haringey, and competed against eight other finalists from across the UK in the Building Skills category. Fiona’s tutor, Kevin Solomon, added: “Everyone who works with her thinks she’s got a bright future ahead of her – I could see her as a trainer, and she could really inspire other young women into construction trades.”

Return to Latest News or the News Archive